i had an ikea-fix, but it was a blur

i got there before opening time (it's a 50min drive from home) and lined up to put both kids into the play area. lucky we did because about halfway down the line they said "we're full now, we'll call your number when you're next in". phew my kids were 2nd family in. so i had an hour to myself in ikea.

an hour in ikea, you're joking.

lucky i knew i wanted a few things in the children's section, and i wanted to look at fabric. so i jogged the 3km to the children's section (15mins gone already) and found my things, umm and ummed about some other stuff (30mins gone), sprinted towards fabric, got lost in quilts, then lighting, backtracked thru the children's area and got to fabric. no staff to ask. so i picked up some pre-cut bits, tracked down someone to price them for me, and then with 1 minute left ran to the play area to get my two munchkins. they very reluctantly came out, hot and sweaty after an hour in the ballpit, and i still had to get thru the rest of the store, downstairs, then thru the other level of stuff to the checkout.

i felt exhausted and blurred and thirsty and hungry and whingey, so i'm sure you can imagine how the kids were feeling.

i want to go alone next time!

about a metre each of 150cm wide fabric. i'm thinking cushions, tote bags, library bags, skirts or dresses for 3yr old miss. or i might just keep patting it for a bit longer.

they were near the checkout for $1.50 each. i thought maybe gifts, but i already love them on my windowsill.

october already

the gardens and the bush are in full flower. the frangipani has it's buds and the jacaranda is a carpet of purple on roads, driveways, and ute trays.

i can honestly say that i am thinking about xmas this early. not that we have the full-on xmas experience, but this recent spell of a couple of days over 30 degrees reminded me of how much i hate shopping in summer. so i started my xmas pressie list, and got started. as i am planning on making most of our gifts this year today i started cutting out and even sewing up a few. it felt good to be thinking about friends and family on a drizzly cool day while the kids played in their pjs and we ate home-made red-bean buns from the oven. the shops can do without me this xmas season!

i also arranged to have a box of fruit&veg delivered each week for a while. we did this for a few months when H was born, and then again when S was born. it was so fantastic to have it appear each thursday. It costs less than i would spend when i shop for it myself, plus it's all so fresh coming straight from the markets. and i love all that summer fruit that's appearing now; mangoes, peaches, nectarines, melons, and still loads of strawberries. i still like to visit our own local farmers markets for the extra stuff tho.

and coles are doing on-line shopping and delivery in our area - at last. so i'm starting a weekly delivery of the "cold stuff" this week too. then at least we're covered for the basics, i don't want to spend my summer days shopping and next year, i want my kid-free days for studying. and coffee. and chatting. and lunching. you get the picture.

wow, i'm feeling soooooo organised. i've probably forgotten to pay some bills and now we'll get our power cut off or something...........................

green, red, blue sky, so vibrant in our grey-green native garden

i just love their scarlet spikey softness

our largest daily crop so far

a quiet spot of fishing with a tent pole, wool, pipe-cleaner, and gum leaf

this is such a peaceful little bit of wall, squeezed in as its is between the tele and the couch. i love the monastic feel of this painting and the pewter speciman vase. i just love having my grandmother's glory box as our art cupboard so it's in daily use.